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Doug Klein

Zionist’s Guide to the World Cup–Day 18

Whither Morocco?

Following their victory over the hapless Spanish squad (more about La Roja, below), the triumphant Moroccan team waved a Palestinian flag during the course of their celebrations.  It should be acknowledged, though, that video clip viewed by the Zionist’s Guide to the World Cup (ZGWC) was notable for three items:

  1. The clip wherein the flag was displayed was of four seconds’ duration;
  2. The flag was held upside down; and
  3. It seemed to be the work of two or three players, not a deliberate and coordinated political statement by the entire team.

On the other hand, it has been reported that a Palestinian flag was also displayed following the Moroccan’s 2-1 victory over Canada.  As such, there is a clear pattern of conduct.  Heretofore, the ZGWC has been a consistent supporter of Morocco secondary to their accession to the Abraham Accords.  These two incidents, though, have had a definite chilling effect on the ZGWC’s ardor for Morocco and its footballing fortunes.  As such, we will be much more circumspect about granting them our endorsement going forward.

As for their victory over the Spanish in the so-called Reconquista 2.0, it was enough to make one yearn for the original Reconquista and all of its bloody, swashbuckling charms.  For 120 minutes–plus stoppage time–the Spaniards enjoyed 77% of possession, but managed only a single shot on goal during that entire time.  With their beautiful, but inconsequential, passing, Spain totally dominated the Moroccans in all aspects, except for scoring.  The match ultimately arrived at penalty kicks.  The Spanish then proceeded to miss all three of their shots, no doubt causing both Francisco Franco and La Pasionaria to roll over in their respective graves.

In the second match of the day, Portugal faced off against Switzerland.  In the immortal words of Harry Lime:  “In Switzerland they had brotherly love – they had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.”  Apparently, this history also produced a penchant for surrendering a bevy of goals to guys with names like Ramos and Pepe and Guerreiro and Leão.  The Portuguese embarrassed the typically organized and tenacious Swiss by a score of 6-1.

You know, the ZGWC was particularly wounded by the USA’s loss on Saturday to the Netherlands.  However, after some of the painful losses over the last several days, by Senegal and South Korea, by Spain and Switzerland, there have been more inglorious exits from the World Cup stage than that suffered by the Yanks.  That serves as some consolation.  So long, Holly.

About the Author
Doug Klein is an attorney in Chicago and the wrestling coach at Ida Crown Jewish Academy.
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